It happens in every hospital, almost every day: A critically ill patient is admitted. Decisions have to be made. Family members change their mind, argue. Doctors may overrule the patients’ wishes and pursue lifesaving treatment. It’s a spiraling chain of events that incur exorbitant costs, often with no impact on quality.

Is this a good use of health care providers' time and energy?

The unspoken truth: Hospital staff certainly feels the frustration, and it undermines morale and hospital efficiency.

Meanwhile, the family members feel lost and overwhelmed with the burden of decisions. You can hear it so clearly in this brief story:

Watch the video. And join the conversation. Leave a comment about what you see…

I’d love to hear how you suspect your staff could be focused on delivering the right care. I know it’s a complicated issue, but making a difference is really possible.